(CNN)  -- Islamist militants in Somalia have warned a United Nations agency to buy food from Somali farmers or stop sending aid to the impoverished African country. "WFP [World Food Programme] causes many problems for the local Somali farmers by importing food from outside Somalia and that discourages the Somali farmers," al-Shabaab said in a statement. "So the WFP should buy its supposed food distribution from Somali farmers or stop its operations in Somalia." The militia also warned local Somali contractors who help distribute WFP food aid to stop helping the U.N. agency by January 1. The warning could be a desperate measure by al-Shabaab, which is reportedly facing financial difficulties following the withdrawal of Ethiopian forces last year. The Ethiopian invasion of Somalia had outraged many members of the Somali diaspora who had sent money to al-Shabaab, which had vowed to kick out the invading forces.

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WFP is aware of the report, according to a spokesman for the agency who would not say whether WFP was in touch with al-Shabaab.